Reclining chair



Feb. 14, 1950 R. A. CRAMER. 512 2,497,395

RECLINING CHAIR Filed March 4, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 I I 1 2 P a; I

INVENTOR. Pay A Creme/z 5/.

ATTORNEYS R. A. CRAMER. SR 2,497,395

RECLINING CHAIR Feb. 14, 1950 Filed March 4, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR.

/?0y' A, Cramer; 5/:

Feb. 14, 1950? R. 'A. CRAMER, sR

RECLINING CHAIR 4 Sheets$heet 3 Filed March 4, 1946 INVENTOR. Roy AOwner; 5/.

ZZZAMVYMM ATTORNEYS Feb. 14, 1950 R. A. CRAMER, SR 2,497,395

RECLINING CHAIR INVENTOR.

E0 1! Owner, 5/7

A TTORNEYS Patented Feb. 14, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,497,595ascnn mo cnsm Boy A. Cramer, 8n, Hickman Mills, Mo. Application March 41546, Serial No. 851,798

15 Claims.

This invention relates to chairs and particularly those of the recliningback type, the principal object being to provide a chair of thischaracter with a seat movable in coordination with the reclining back soas to provide proper body support throughout change of position of aperson when shifting from a substantially erect sitting position to areclining position.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a chair structure whereinmovement of the back and seat conforms to natural movement of a person'sbody when shifting from a sitting to a reclining position; to provide astructure which utilizes weight of a person for facilitating movement ofthe back and seat, that is, the weight of the body on the back aids inraising the seat when the person moves to a reclining position and theweight of the body on the seat aids in raising the back when the persondesires toreturn to an upright position; to provide to assist in returnmovement of the back and seat when a person of light weight is occupyingthe chair; to provide means for adjusting the action of the spring; toprovide a chair structure wherein the seat shifts forwardly and upwardlyas the back moves downwardly so that the pivot point of the body of aperson seated in the chair is held in a fixed course; to provide a chairstructure wherein the back is connected with the seat by a linkage toeffect tilting of the back for supporting the back of a person on movingto reclined position; to provide a reclining back chair with a backadjustable vertically for differentsized persons; to provide springs forraising the back when effecting adjustment of the back for height; andto provide the back with a vertically adjustable head rest which may bemanipulated independently of adjustment of the back.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a reclining back chairwherein the cushioning material supporting member is shaped bothvertically and transversely in accordance with a person's back so thatthe cushioning material can be of equal thickness over the entire areathereof; and to provide covers for the back, seat and head rest that arereadily removable for laundering or dry cleaning.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a chair with a. spring 5tion and showing the preferred form of which is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings wherein: I

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a chair constructed in accordance withthe present inventhe back in reclining position, the covering plate forenclosing the operating mechanism at one side of the chair being removedfor better illustration.

Fig. 2 is a similar view but showing the back in substantially erectposition.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal section through the chair, the upperportion of the back I being shown in elevation.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section through the back and head rest on theline 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 3 but I showing the seat inraised position and the back a reclining back chair of simple andrelatively inexpensive construction; and to provide a chair of thischaracter wherein all main actions are controlled by a single lever.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, 1 haveprovided improved structure,

in reclining position.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view partially in sectionparticularly illustrating the latch mechanism for retaining the back andseat in an adjusted position.

Fig. 7 is a horizontal section through the chair and showing the seatremoved, but with the position thereof indicated in dotted lines.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary section through a side of the back support,particularly illustrating the spring for raising the back of the chairrelative tothe seat.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of the back support,particularly illustrating the latch and lever mechanism for retainingthe back in vertically adjusted position.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

l designates a chair embodying the features of the present invention andwhich includes a base 2, a pivoting back supporting means 3, a back 4tiltable on the back supporting means and a seat 5. The base 2 may beconstructed in various manners and of various materials, but isillustrated as composed of tubing, since tubing provides a chair frameof strong, lightweight construction. The base 2 includes laterallyspaced side portions 6 and I, each formed of tubing bent to shape forproviding front and rear legs 8 and 9 having the desired contour andinterconnected by a rearwardly inclined arm supporting rail l0 and alower rail I l. The front legs 8 of the sides include an inwardlyextending arm I! cooperating with an arm is depending from the railportion 10 for forming a bracket H wherefrom the back support issuspended. The arm i3 preferably extends below the arm I! and has abifurcation l5.

The side portions of the base are interconnected memos latch mechanism,later described, the rail I1 is preferably of rectangular cross sectionto provide a substantially flat upper face portion II to mount the latchmechanism later described.

Carried on the rails 'III are arm rests l3 and 23 that may beupholstered or covered to conform with the seat and back covering laterdescribed.- If desired, the side portions of the base may be covered onthe inner and outer sides by side plates 2| and 22 engaging therespective sides of the frame sections and having interengaging flanges23 and 24 extending over the tubing so that the tubing forming the sidesof the frame is completely enclosed. In order to accommodate the chairoperating mechanism within the enclosures, the outer covering plates 2|are preferably offset outwardly above the lower cross rails II as indicated at 23 (Fig. l).

Pivotally connected with each of the bifurcated ends I! of the arms l3are arms 26 having lateral terminals 23 extending through arcuate slots23 that are provided in the inside cover plates 22 of the chair frame.The arms 26 are provided with tongues 30 engaged between the ears of thebifurcated terminals of the arms l3 and are hinged thereto by pivot pins3! The location of the hinge pins 3| relative to the movable seat andback 4 constitute an important part of the present invention to behereinafter more fully disclosed.

Fixed to and extending laterally from the rearward sides of the arms 23are arms 32 having terminals 33 extending laterally through the arcuateslots 29 to cooperate with the terminals 23 for suspendedly carrying theback supporting means 3. The back supporting means includes tubular sidemembers 34 having forwardly curved ends 35 preferably corresponding withcurvature of the slots 23 and which are connected with the lateralterminals of the arms 23 and 33 by welding or the like. The other endsof the side members 34 extend upwardly and rearwardly so that theyterminate a short distance above the arms of the chair as shown in Fig.3. The side members 34 of the back support are interconnected by a web36 having the side edges thereof curved around the side members as at 31and having flanges 33 secured to the body of the web (Fig. 6) The frontedge of the web is similarly curved as at 33 (Fig. 7) about the lateralterminals 23 of the arms 26 and about a yoke-shaped cross member 43which interconnects the inner ends of the terminals 28 as best shown inFig. 2, so as to provide a connection for a spring assembly 4|, laterdescribed. The upper edge of the,

web terminates at the upper ends of the tubular side members of thesupport and is rolled inwardly as at 42 (Fig. 9) to form a finishededge.

It is obvious that the back support is pivotally suspended from the sideportions of the chair frame and 'is adapted to swing in an are when theback 4 of the chair is moved toward a reclining position as laterdescribed. Slidably mounted on the back supporting means is a slide orcarrier 43 having tubular guides 44 slidable within the tubular members34 and interconnected by a web 45. The guides have heads 46, eachincluding ears 4! and a pin 48 engaged within the upper open ends of theguides. The pins are permanently attached to the guides and formabutments for the ends of coil springs 43 that have one end housedwithin the tubular guides and the outer ends within the tubular sidemembers of the back supporting means.

The back 4 includes a pan-like member 33 having substantially parallelside flanges 3i and upper flanges '32 and a lower flange 33corresponding to the desired shape of the back. Theflanges arereinforced by a frame 34 extending therearound and having parallel sides33 which constitute side tracks for a head rest 33.

Cooperating with the member 33 is an inner member 31 having side flanges33 (Fig. 4) corresponding with the flanges of the member 33 andco-acting therewith to clamp the marginal edges 33 of the back coveringmaterial 33. The pan member 31 is removably secured to the pan-likemember 53 by fastening devices such as screws 3|.

Attention is directed to the fact that the inner member 31 is shapedlongitudinally and transversely to conform with the back of a personwhereby the cushioning material 32, for example, sponge rubber or thelike, may be of substantially uniform thickness over the area of theback, thereby simplifying the construction and reducing the cost ofassembly.

With' the back structure thus described, the covering for the cushioningmaterial is readily removable for laundering or dry cleaning simply byremoving the fastening devices 3| so that the inner member 31 may bewithdrawn to loosen the marginal edges 33 of the covering 30 so that thecovering may be readily removed therefrom.

In order that the lower portion of the back is kept in supportingcontact with the back of a person during movement thereof. the back ispivotally connected with'the ears 41 of the heads 43 by providing theouter back member with lugs 33 having internally threaded socketsregistering with openings in the ears 41 to mount trunnions in the formof screws 34. Movement of the back is limited under control of a linkagewith the seat 3 and which is later described. In order to anchor theback in any one of its positions, the inner face of the web 33 carries abracket 35 that cooperates with one of the side members 34 inJournalling a rock shaft 33. One end of the rock shaft carries alatching arm 31 having a tooth 33 adapted to engage in any one .of aseries of openings 33 formed in the web 43 of the slides 43. Theopposite end of the rock shaft carries an arm 13 provided with a pushbutton stem H. which extends rearwardly through a suitable opening inthe web 33 of the back support and mounts a push button 12 whereby theshaft 33 may be rocked to effect release of the tooth 33 on the latcharm 31 from engagement with one of the openings 33. The latch arm isnormally retained in position to engage one of the openings by a spring13 having one end attached to the latch arm and the other end to thebracket 33. The web of the slide 43 operates in slots 14 located in thefacing sides of the tubular menibers in which the guides of the slideare mounted.

The head rest 33 includes a frame I3 having a construction substantiallyconforming to that of the back of the chair so as to retain a cushioningmaterial I3 and a removable covering I3. The frame I3 is carried forvertical movement over the cushioning of the chair back by arms 13overlapping the sidesof the back and having tubular slides 33 engagingthe side members 33 of the back frame previously described. The slides33 are so formed relative to the tracks that the head rest isfrictionally supported in its desired adjusted position.

The seat 8 includes a base plate 8I conforming to the general shape ofthe seat and having a depending marginal flange 82 extending along thefront and sides thereof and terminating in a reversely turned edge 88for forming a groove 84 to anchor the-marginal ing material 85.

l The cushioning material 88 for the seat is carried on the base plateand retained in position by the covering 88 that is stretched thereover.The seat is mounted on the frame of the chair for upward and forwardmovement upon downward swinging movement of the back whereby themovement of the back and seat are coordinated to conform with movementof the body of a person seated in the chair when the person moves to andfrom reclining position. Such movement of the seat is effected byproviding an elevating support on the cross bar I8 including brackets 81fixed to and extending vertically from the cross rail and having rollers88 journalled on pins 88. The rollers 88 operate in inclined tracks 88,each including a channel 8| pivoted as at 82 (Fig. to wing-like brackets88 fixed to and depending from a trans verse reinforcing bar 84 attachedto the underface of the base plate of the seat. The channellike guidetracks extend rearwardly and downwardly from their pivot points and therear ends are adjustably connected with the wing-like brackets tosupport the tracks at a selected angle relatively to the horizontal sothat when the seat is shifted forwardly the forward edge thereof israised by reason of the channel-like tracks moving upwardly andforwardly over the rollers 88. In order to provide and maintainadjustment of the tracks, the rear ends thereof carry fasten! ingdevices such as bolts 85 that extend through arcuate openings 88 in thewing-like brackets and which are adapted to clamp the rear ends of thechannel-like tracks against the brackets upon tightening of nuts on thebolts as will be well understood. The rear of the seat is supported onthe lateral terminals 28 of the back supporting means by arm-likesupports 81 that have their upper ends extending base plate 8I of theseat and pivotally secured as at 88 with brackets I88 fixed to the baseof the seat. Thus, when the back is moved to a reclining position, thearms 81 being fixed to the terminals 28, lift therear of the seat andmove the seat forwardly.

In order to control tilting of the back on the back support, the seatand back are interconnected by a lost motion connection including a linkI8I as above mentioned. The link IN is pivoted as at I82 at its lowerend to an ear-like bracket from the rear edge of the as best shown inFig. 3. of the link extends through a slot like members of I88 (Fig. 8).The spring assembly H is to assist a light-weight person in raising theback from reclining position and includes a shoe I88 carrying a tubularstem I81 slidably mounted in a tubular guide I88 havin supported on thecross bar I6 by a bracket I88 having a portion thereof engaged aroundthe rail and cooperating with the shoe I88 to support the tubularmembers therebetween. Contained within the tubular members is a coilspring no adapted to be base of the seat The upper end I84 inthe pan-I88 extending rearwardly' the back and slides in the space edge of theseat coversupporting means is through slots 88 in the its forward endpivotaily tensioned by means of a nut II I 1 whereby the shaft tained inposition connection with a threaded shaft II8 that is iournalied withinthe forward end of the outer tube I88 as indicated at H4. The shaft. isprovided with a hand wheel III may be rotated to move the nut thereon"for adjusting action of the spring II8. It is obvious that by adjustingthe spring any desired balancing effect may be maintained to suit theoccupant of the chair.

In order to support the back and seat in adiusted position, the arcuateportions of the side members of the back support have racks H8 and H1fixed to the sides thereof and provided with a series of notches II8 topass a latch bolt II8 that is slidably mounted on the upper flat face ofthe transverse rail I1. The latch bolt has upwardly offset ends I28 toregister with the notches of the racks, the offset ends of the latchbolt being slidably mounted in guides HI and I22 located at the desiredlevels. The guide I22 is supported on a built-up portion I28 of the railI1 and the guide I2I is mounted on the adjacent longitudinal rail II andon a'gusset-like plate I24 which mounts a bell crank lever I28. The bellcrank lever includes an arm I28 engaged in a notch I21 of-the latch boltso that when the bell crank is rocked on its pivot I28, the latch boltis reciprocated to effect movement of the outer end thereof out ofengagement with the rack II1 and a notch I88 in the top 'of the boltinto position for registering with the rack II8. When in this position,the back free to permit movement of the back to any one of itsrespective positions as governed by the notches in the racks H8 and H1.

The actuating arm I8I \of "the bell crank is connected by a link I82with an actuating lever I88 that is'pivotally supported as at I84 on abracket I85 carried by the longitudinal rail II at the right hand sideof the chair as best shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The latch bolt is normallyreto effect rocking of the back support by means of a coil spring I88having one end attached to a fixed part of the side frame and itsopposite end to the latch release lever I88 at a point between the pivotI84 and its connection with the link I82. The release lever is suitablyformed so that the operating and I81 is adapted to project through asuitable slot I88 (Fig. '1) provided in the side cover plate at thatside of the chair.

The chair constructed and assembled as described ordinarily has the backthereof raised to the position shown in Fig. 2 and secured by the latchbar. When a person seats himself in the chair, the back is adjusted forheight. The back may be raised and lowered to suit the size of theperson by releasing the latch 81, responsive to pressing on the button12 and sliding the back up and down until it is at a comfortable height.During sliding mavement of the back, the guides of the slide or carriagemove within the tubular members of the back support and when the back isin the desired position, pressure on the latch button is released topermit the spring 18 to move the latch 81 so that the tooth 88 thereofslides into the nearest opening 88 of the web 45.

The head rest is then adjusted to proper height on the back by slidingthe guides of the rest along the side members 55 of the back frame.

when it is desired to move to a reclining position, the occupant of thechair grasps the lever I88 and shifts it against action of the springhavins threaded 7 I36 to rock the bell crank through the link Ill.Movement of the bell crank causes the arm I" thereof to shift the latchbolt lllso that the. notch I30 therein is broughtiinto registry to passthe teeth of the rack Ill and the opposite end of the latch bolt clearsthe teeth of the other rack. The occupant of the chair may then pushagainst the back so that the back moves toward reclining position.During this movement of the back, the back supporting means swings onthe pivot 8i and the terminal of the arms 28 and 32 move forwardly. ofthe arcuate slots is which carry the side members and connecting webtherewith. The movement effects raising of the seat supports '1 andcauses the rear of the seat toraise and shift forwardly on the rollers88. This movement on the rollers causes the channel-like tracks to raisethe forward portion of the seat so that the forward portion raisessimultaneously with the rear portion of the seat. Shift of the seat andsimultaneous lowering of the back conforms with-movement of the body ofthe person and avoids pull oi the chair on any part of the person's bodyor the customary disarrangement of the person's clothing. Consequently,when the person reaches the desired reclining position, he iscomfortably located and there is no necessity of re-arranging his bodyon the chair.

Attention is directed to the fact that the suspension of the backsupporting means from an s;m,ses 7 chairwhere' comm-t back supportingmeans for pivctally carrying the back on axis above the seat places thepivot in the path of movement of the hinge joint ofthe person's body andthe space closes between the chair seat and back; consequently, there isno slipping between the person and the surface of the seat or back ofthe chair.

During movement of the seat, the lower portion of the back tiltsupwardly toward the body of the person to provide support therefor. Thisis effected by the lost motion link connection between the seat and theback. When the back is in the desired reclining position, pressure onthe lever in is released so that the spring I34 shifts the latch boltinto position to re-engage the teeth of the racks H8 and I I1. Duringmovement of the person to reclining position, pressure on the backassists raising of the seat and lifting of the body by the seat controlsdownward movement of the back. When it is desired to return to a sittingposition, the latch lever is again actuated to release the latch bolt sothat weight applied on the seat supplemented by action of the spring Illreturns the back to substantially upright position as shown in Fig. 2.

From the foregoing it is obvious that I have provided a reclining backchair wherein the seat moves in coordination with the back so as toprovide proper body support throughout the change of position of aperson when shifting from a substantially erectsitting position to areclining position.

It is also obvious that the movement of the back and seat conforms tothe natural movement of a person's body when shifting from a seating toa reclining position and that the weight of the person is. utilized ineil'ecting movement of the back and seat, that is, the weight of thebody on the back aids in raising the seat when the person moves to areclining position and the weight of the body on the seat aids inraising the back when the person desires to return to an uprightposition.

It is also obvious that the present invention is readily adapted for usein any type chair such Y andairplanes is desired.

whatlclaimanddesiretolecmebyletters Patent is:

L A chair-including a base, a back, supporting means for said back,means for suspending the swinging movement on the base froma positionadapted for supporting the'back of an occupant seated in the chair topositions adapted for supporting the back of the occupant when theoccupant shifts toward a reclining posture, a seat, seat supportingmeans on the back supporting means and on said base for raising theseatand moving the amt forwardly when the back supporting means is movedtoward said reclining position, means the back supporting means, and aconnection between the back and seat to effect pivotal movement of theback on said supporting means responsive to movement of said seat. a

2., A chair including a base, a back, supporting means for said back,means pivoted on the base.

-back supporting means is moved toward said reclining position,elevating means for raising the front of said seat simultaneously withforward movement of the seat, a pivotal connection between the back andthe back supporting means'on which the back is adapted to rock, aconnection between the back 'and seat for'controlling said rockingmovement, and means for stopping movement of the back supporting meansto retain said seat and back relatively immovable on said backsupporting means.

3. A chair including a base, a back, supporting means for said back,means having pivotal con-- nection with the base and having connectionwith the back supporting means for suspending the back supporting meansfor swinging movement on the base from a position adapted for support ofthe back of an occupant seated in the chair to positions adapted tosupport the back of an occupant when shifting toward a recliningposture, a seat, seat supporting means on the back supporting means andhaving pivotal connection with said seat for raising the rear of theseat and moving the seat forwardly when the back supporting means ismoved toward said reclining position, elevating means between the baseand said seat for raising the front of said seat simultaneously withforward movement of the seat, means pivoting the back on the backsupporting means for rocking movement of the back on a transverse axisand at a point intermediate the height of the back, and a connectionbetween the seat and the back for effecting rocking movement of the backon said pivoted axis when the back is moved toward said recliningpositions.

4. A chair including a\ base having laterally spaced sides, a back,supporting means for said back, means having pivotal support on saidsides and having connection with the back supporting means forsuspending the back supporting means for swinging movement between saidsides of the base from a position back of an occupant seated in thechair to positions adapted to support the back of the occupant whenshifting toward a reclining posture, a seat intermediate seat supportingmeans on the back supporting means and having pivotal connection withsaid seat for raising the rear of the seat and moving the seat forwardlybetween said side portions of the base when the back supporting means ismoved toward said reclining position, elevating means between the baseand said seat for raisins the front of said seat simultaneously withforward movement of the seat, means pivoting the back on'the backsupporting means for rocking movement of the back on an axistransversely of said back and at a point intermediate the height of theback, a connection between the seat and the back for effecting rockingmovement of theback when the back is moved toward said recliningpositions, and means for stoppin! and holding the back supporting meansin any of said positions and to retain said seat and back infixedpositions with respect to the back supporting means.

5, Achair including a base, a back, supporting means for said back,means having pivotal support on the base and having connection with theback supporting means for suspending the back supporting means forswinging movement on the base from a position adapted for support of theback of an occupant seated in the chair to positions adapted occupantwhen shifting toward a reclining posture, a seat, seat supporting meanson the back supporting means and having pivotal connection with saidseat for raising the rear of the seat and moving the seat forwardly onthe base when the back supporting means is moved toward said reclininposition, elevating means between the base and said seat for raising thefront of said seat simultaneously with forward movement of the seat, aslide connected with said back, means pivotally connecting the back withsaid slide for rocking the back on the back supporting means, means onthe back supporting means for movably supporting the slide to adjust therocking point of said back with respect to said seat, and means forlatching the slide relatively to the back supporting means.

6. A chair including a base, a back, supporting means for said back,means having pivotal support on the base and having connection with theback supporting means for suspending the back supporting means forwinging movement on the base from a position adapted for support of theback of an occupant seated in the chair to positions adapted to supportthe back of the occupant when shifting toward a reclining posture, aseat, seat supportin means on the back supporting means and havingpivotal connection with said seat for raising the rear of'the seat andmoving the seat forwardly on the base when the back supporting means ismoved toward said reclining position, elevatingmeans between the baseand said seat for raising the front of said seat simultaneously withforward movement of the seat, a carrier for said back, means forpivoting the back on said carrier for rocking movement of the back on atransverse axis, a connection between the back and seat to rock saidback upon movement of the seat, said carrier having movable supportalong said back supporting means for adjusting the rocking pointrelatively adapted for support of the the side portions of the base,

- relatively to the back to support the back of the 10 a said seat.and-means for latching the carrier supporting means.

'1.- A chair including a spaced sides. a back, supporting means for saidbackand having tubular side members, means pivoted on said sides andhaving .connection with the side members of the back supporting meansfor suspending the back supporting means for swingingv movementbetweensaid sides of the base from a position for supporting the back ofanoccupant of the chair when seated to positions adapted to support theback of the occupant when shifting toward a reclining posture, a seatintermediate said side portions of the .base, seat supporting means onthe back supporting means and having connection with said seat forraising the rear of the seat and moving the front of said seatsimultaneously with forward movement of the seat, a back carrier havingtubular guides slideable within the tubular side members of the backsupporting means for adjustment of the back vertically with respect tosaid seat, pivot means connecting the back with said tubular'guidesfor-Irocking movement of. the back on a transverseaxis at a pointintermediate the height of the back, springs housed within said tubularguides and side members for urging the carrier in a direction to assistraising of the back, and a latch for retaining the carrier in a selectedposition on the back supporting means.

8. A chair includinga base, a back, supporting means for said back,means pivotally connected with the base and having connection with theback supporting means for suspending the back supporting means forswinging movement from a position adapted for supporting the back of anoccupant when seated in the chair to a position and movable on the backsupporting means to and from said seat, means for pivoting the back onsaid carrier for rocking movement of the back on a transverse axis,resilient means carried by the back supporting means for urging thecarrier in a direction to assist in raising the back, control meanshaving connection with said seat and sliding connection with the backfor controlling rocking movement of the back in the various positions ofthe carrier, and latch means between the carrier and the-back supportingmeans for retaining the carrier in a selected position on the backsupporting means.

9. A chair including a base, a back, supporting means for said back,means. pivotally connected with the base and having connection with theback supporting means for suspending the back supporting means forswinging movement on the base from a position adapted for supporting theback of the occupant seated in the chair to positions for supporting theback of the occupant when shifting toward a reclining posture, a seat onthe base, a back carrier connected with said back and movable on theback'supporting means for adjustment of the back vertically with respectto said seat, means pivoting the back on the carrier for rockingmovement of the back on a transverse axis, resilient means for urgingthe base having laterally and sliding connection with the back for controlling rocking movement of the back in the various positions of thecarrier, and a latch means a for retaining thecarrier in a selectedposition on the back supporting means.

10. A chair including a base having laterally spaced sides, a back,supporting means for said back including laterally spaced tubularmembers having ends curving downwardly and forwardly between sides ofthe base, means for plvotally connecting the curved ends of said memberswith the sides of the base for suspending the back supporting means forswinging movement between said side portions of the base from a positionadapted for supporting the back .of an occupant when seated in the chairto a position adapted to support the back of the occupant when theoccupant shifts toward a reclining posture, a seat intermediate saidside portions of the base, seat supporting means on the curved ends ofthe tubular members and having pivotal connection with the seat forraising the rear of the seat and moving the seat forwardly between saidsides of the base when the back supporting means is moved toward saidreclining position, elevating means between the base and said seat forraising the front of said seat simultaneously with forward movement ofthe seat, guides in the upper ends of said tubular members, a webconnecting the guides, means for pivotally mounting the back on saidguides, springs in the tubular members and engaging the guides to raisethe back, a spring connecting the back supporting means with the basefor assisting in raising the back supporting means and returning theseat when the occupant shifts from reclining to sitting posture, and alost motion connection between the seat and back to control pivotalmovement of the back on said guides.

11. A chair including a, base, seat and back members, means for mountingsaid members on the base for alternately lowering one of said membersand raising the other on the base responsive to shifting weight of anoccupant when in said chair, a rocking support for the back on said backmounting means, control means for controlling rocking movement of theback relative to said seat, and a spring connecting one of the memberswith the base for facilitating movement of said members.

12. A chair-including a base having laterally spaced sides, a back,supporting means for said back having side members provided withdownwardly and forwardly curving ends positioned between said sides,arms having flxed connection with said side members and extendingsubstantially radially with respect to the curvature oi said ends andhaving pivotal connection with the sides of the base on the axis ofcurvature of said members for suspending the back to swing between thesides of the base from a, position adapted to support the back of anoccupant seated in the chair to positions adapted to support the back ofthe occupant when the occupant shifts toward reclining posture, a seatintermediate said side portions of the base and located above saidcurved ends of the back supporting means, and seat supporting meansconnecting terminals of said curved ends of the back supporting meanswith the seat for raising the seat and projecting the seat forwardlybetween said sides of the base when the back supporting means is movedtoward said reclining position.

12 y .13; A chair including a base having laterally spaced sides, aback. supporting means for said back having side members provided withdown- -wardly and forwardly curving ends positionedbetween said sides.arms having fixed connection with said side members and extendingsubstantially radially with respect to the curvature of said ends andhaving pivotal connection with the sides of the base on the axis ofcurvature of said members for suspending the back to swing between thesides of the base from a position adapted to support the back of anoccupant seated in the chair to positions adapted to support the back ofthe occupant when the occupant shifts toward reclining posture, a seatintermediate said side portions of the base and located above saidcurved ends of the back supporting means, seat supporting linksconnecting terminals of said curved ends of the back supporting meanswith the seat for raising the seat and projecting the seat forwardlybetween said sides of the base when the back supporting means is movedtoward said reclining position, an arcuate rack on the curving end of atleastone of said side members, and latch means for engaging teeth ofsaid rack to support the back and seat members in a selective position.4

14. A chair including a base having laterally spaced sides, a back,supporting means for said backhaving side members provided withdownwardly and forwardly curving ends positioned be-' tween said sides,arms having fixed connection with said side members and extendingsubstan-' tially radially with respect to the curvature of said ends andhaving pivotal connection with the sides of the base on the axis ofcurvature of said members for suspending the back to swing between thesides of the base from a position adapted to support the back of anoccupant seated in the chair to positions adapted to support the back ofthe occupant when the occupant shifts toward reclining posture, a seatintermediate said side portions of the base and located above saidcurved wardly of said yoke-shaped member, telescoping tubes pivotallyconnecting said yoke-shaped member with the cross member, a coil springhoused within said tubes, and a threaded shaft rotatably mounted in oneof said tubes having an abutment for engaging one end of said spring tocontrol action of the spring for regulating movement of the backcarrying means under weight of 'the occupant.

15. A chair including a base having laterally spaced sides, a back,supporting means for said back having side members provided withdownwardly and forwardly curving ends positioned between said sides,arms having fixed connection with said side members and extendingsubstantially radially with respect to the curvature of said ends of theside members and having pivotal connection with the sides of the base onthe axis of curvature of said members for suspending the back to swingbetween the sides of the base from a position adapted to support theback of an occupant seated in the chair to positions adapted to supportthe back of the occupant when the 13 occupant shifts toward recliningposture, a seat intermediate said side portions of the base and locatedabove said curved ends of the back supp rting means, seat supportinglinks connecting I terminals of said curved ends of the back sun- Iporting means with the seat substantially forwardly of the rear of theseat for raising the seat and projecting the seat forwardly between saidsides of the base when the back supporting means is moved toward saidreclining position, and means for simultaneously raising the front ofthe seat.

ROY A. CRAMER, Sn.

REFERENCES CITED Number Re. 8,131 5 42,858 120.110 255,432 348,654488,773 10 718,37 2 728,141 935,844 1,187,745

14. UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Ross Mar. 19, 1878 Kimball et-al.May 24, 1864 Schindler Oct. 1'7, 1871 Starr Mar. 9, 1880 Wilt June 15,1886 Peck Dec. 27, 1892 McKee Jan. 13, 1903 Stewart et a1 May 12, 1903Hampton Oct. 5, 1909 Kerr June 20, 1916 Cronwall J'uly 1'7, 1928

